Moments later, Zi Linling's expression turned extremely grim.
Ye Lingyuan's condition was dire. He had lost nearly half his blood, and his internal organs were beginning to fail from overexertion. The wounds that had been previously stitched up had not only burst open but were also showing signs of infection.
Under such circumstances, anyone else would have fallen unconscious. It was only due to Ye Lingyuan's immense strength and willpower that he remained lucid.
Zi Linling's sharp, knife-like gaze fell upon Ye Lingyuan, and she berated him angrily, "You call this fine? Ye Lingyuan, do you think you've become a god and no longer need this mortal shell? Or do you think the effort I put in last night, helping you stitch up your wounds, was too easy?"
This was the second time today that the usually composed Zi Linling had cursed at Ye Lingyuan, indicating the depth of her anger. Yet, even she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for her frustration.
Ultimately, she rationalized it as the annoyance of a responsible physician whose patient was defying orders.
A faint smile touched Ye Lingyuan's lips. This woman was worried about him! It seemed she wasn't as cold and indifferent as she appeared.
Fine, since she was concerned about him, he wouldn't dwell on her scowling.
With a touch of arrogance, he stated, "This King has not become a god; I am still of mortal flesh."
"You!"
Hearing this, Zi Linling was utterly speechless. She glared furiously at Ye Lingyuan, gritting her teeth, and managed to utter this single word, but then found herself at a loss for further speech.
Alright, his body was his own, his injuries were his own, and if he bled dry, that was his own affair. By what right did she have to reprimand him? It was like the emperor wasn't worried, but the eunuch was.
However, recalling Ye Lingyuan's unhesitating action of shielding her earlier, a certain string within her heart finally gave way, and her expression softened slightly.
Just then, Ye Lingyuan muttered softly, "When you used me as a cushion, you didn't seem to care about the difficulty of stitching up my wounds."
His voice was as clear and cold as ever, but Zi Linling detected a hint of grievance within it.
She blinked, then remembered how she had nearly collided with a wall earlier. She hadn't felt the pain of impact, only heard Ye Lingyuan's heavy groan.
She surmised that she must have landed on his wounds at that moment. By that logic, was she at fault?
Another string in Zi Linling's heart vibrated, and the lingering anger on her face vanished.
"Fine. Since you saved me, I'll reluctantly agree to treat your wounds again."
Saying this, she prepared to retrieve her medical instruments from the Nine Spirit Ring.
Ye Lingyuan grasped Zi Linling's hand and said, "My injuries are not urgent. Don't you need several medicinal ingredients?"
Zi Linling was about to retort when she heard Ye Lingyuan's telepathic message: "Woman, it's best not to conjure things out of thin air in front of outsiders. Revealing your spatial ring could lead to a fatal disaster."
Zi Linling was taken aback, not fully understanding Ye Lingyuan's meaning.
"Woman, do not underestimate the allure of a spatial ring. Such items are coveted even by Saint King realm experts, and there are no more than a handful on the entire Heavenly Origin Continent."
Ever since Zi Linling had faced off against Hua Ruhai and conjured a saber from nowhere, Ye Lingyuan had sensed a fluctuation in her soul, confirming that she possessed a spatial ring, not a spatial storage bag.
This was because retrieving items from a spatial storage bag involved using one's will, not their soul.
While spatial storage bags were valuable, for some powerful individuals or large clans, they were merely a matter of quantity, as their raw materials were simply fragments containing spatial attributes.
However, spatial rings were different. They were created by space-attribute experts who used their own spatial power as a foundation to forcibly carve out a pocket dimension.
Thus, in the Heavenly Origin Continent, where no space-attribute experts had appeared for millennia, spatial rings were considered a limited edition.
Zi Linling, unaware of the preciousness of spatial rings, had been using hers without any disguise.
Of course, only someone as unobservant as Huo Qinghe would mistakenly believe she possessed a spatial storage bag.
But Ji Ran, a Saint King realm expert with a sea of consciousness, was highly sensitive to soul fluctuations. If Zi Linling had used her spatial ring in his presence, she would have definitely been discovered.
Therefore, upon Ye Lingyuan's reminder, Zi Linling felt a chill run down her spine.
It seemed that until she reached a certain level of strength, she absolutely could not reveal the existence of the Nine Spirit Ring.
However, if Ye Lingyuan knew she possessed a spatial ring, why didn't he try to take it?
Since she couldn't use spiritual energy transmission yet, she had to suppress this question.
Of course, she wasn't foolish enough to ask directly. Ye Lingyuan's telepathic message was likely intended to ward off certain individuals.
Given that, she might as well play along.
Zi Linling flusteredly withdrew her hand, which Ye Lingyuan was holding, and snapped, "Ye Lingyuan, you scoundrel! I'm kindly trying to treat your injuries, and you dare take advantage of me. What does my need for medicinal ingredients have to do with your injuries?"
Ye Lingyuan looked at her bristling demeanor and a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. He mused, "This woman is quite the actress."
He figured Ji Ran must be curious about what he had transmitted telepathically. Very well, this would serve to allay his suspicions.
"It has nothing to do with my injuries, but it has to do with him!"
Ye Lingyuan replied calmly to Zi Linling, his gaze shifting towards Ji Ran.
Zi Linling blinked and followed his gaze. Upon seeing Ji Ran, killing intent flared in her eyes. "It has to do with him? What does it have to do with him?"
How could Zi Linling remain indifferent to Ji Ran? She hadn't attacked directly because she was no match for him, especially since he had so clearly tried to kill her moments ago.
Ye Lingyuan inwardly praised, "This woman, though stubborn, at least knows how to endure and doesn't charge headfirst into danger without thinking, constantly risking her life."
A flicker of admiration crossed his eyes as he said, "Didn't he accidentally injure you earlier? He's willing to compensate you!"
Zi Linling rolled her eyes. Accidentally injured? That was a polite way of putting it; it was attempted murder!
However, when she heard the word "compensation," a spark lit up in her eyes.
She was currently useless, and revenge was out of the question for now. Taking some compensation wouldn't be bad, after all, a gentleman's revenge is not too late after ten years.
"Compensation? Compensate with what?"
Ye Lingyuan raised his eyebrows and replied, "Don't you desperately need several medicinal ingredients? Have him compensate you with those!"
He then secretly transmitted to Zi Linling again, "He is a mid-stage Saint King realm expert. Take the medicinal ingredients first."
Ye Lingyuan's intention was clear: the opponent was too powerful for her currently. Take the ingredients now, and when she has the strength, she can exact her revenge.